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Tools of Research

Tools of Research. Goal of Research. To derive conclusions from a body of data and discover what was previously unknown tools are needed to facilitate this goal there are many kinds of tools because of the varied nature of the types of research, but there is a general set of tools.

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Tools of Research

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  1. Tools of Research

  2. Goal of Research • To derive conclusions from a body of data and discover what was previously unknown • tools are needed to facilitate this goal • there are many kinds of tools because of the varied nature of the types of research, but there is a general set of tools

  3. Research Tools • Specific strategy the researcher uses to collect, manipulate, or interpret data • the library and its resources • the computer and its software • techniques of measurement • statistics • the human mind • facility with language

  4. Library and Its Resources • Includes the virtual library • (WebCat Search the BSU Libraries' Catalog ) • a listing all materials the library owns, including books, software videocassettes, CDs, and a variety of other media. • indicate whether the Libraries own a specific journal, but will not help locate articles on a topic.

  5. Library and Its Resources • reference section • To search for journal articles, use the databases listed under the Indexes/Articles section on the Universities Libraries' Do Research page.

  6. Finding the Books • Coded and arranged according with 2 principal systems: • Dewey decimal classification system • the Library of Congress (LC) classification system • browse among the shelves

  7. Finding Periodicals • Determine if library shelves a periodical • Current volumes are left loose on shelves • older volumes are bound and found on the first floor • after a certain period, volumes may be microfiched

  8. WWW • On-line journals • The Directory of Computing Science Journals • URL: http://elib.cs.sfu.ca/cs-journals/ • 522 journals, with 414 publisher's title pages, 226 tables of contents, 65 abstracts directories, 112 home pages, 159 bibliographies, 16 full-text archives and on-line journals, and other information.

  9. WWW • Using search engines • careful of web page’s content - look at the source

  10. Text Definition of Measurement • limiting the data of any phenomenon - substantial or insubstantial - so that those data may be interpreted, and, ultimately, compared to an acceptable qualitative or quantitative standard

  11. Everyday Measurement • Everyday use measurement is to discover the extent, dimensions, quantity or capacity of something. • How well you liked a song • the personality of a friend • the weight of your dog

  12. Research Measurement • Assigning numbers to empirical events in compliance with a set of rules. • Three steps: • selecting observable empirical events • using numbers or symbols to represent aspects of the events • applying a mapping rule to connect the observation to the symbol

  13. Data Types • Each data type has its own set of underlying assumptions about how the numerals correspond to real-world observations • four widely used scales of measurement • nominal • ordinal • interval • ratio

  14. Nominal Data • Data partitioned into categories that are mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive • no order, no distance, or origin • basic empirical operation is for determination of equality • which class has the most members • use chi-square to compare relative frequencies

  15. Ordinal • Order, but no distance or unique origin • determination of greater or lesser values • must fulfill the transitivity postulate, if a > b and and b > c then a > c • nonparametric models • percentile rank, Spearman’s rank order correlation

  16. Interval • Both order and distance but no unique origin • determination of equality of intervals or differences • calendar time ( the elapsed time between 3 and 5 a.m equals the time between 4 and 6 a.m, however 6 a.m is not twice as late as 3 a.m because zero time is an arbitrary origin)

  17. Ratio • Order, distance, and unique origin • determination of equality of ratios • geometric mean, percentage variation

  18. Sources of Measurement Differences • Systematic ( results from a bias) • random (occurs erratically) • error sources: • respondent - hunger, impatience • situational - surrounding • measurer - recording, encouragement • instrument - omissions, ambiguous

  19. Characteristics of Sound Measurement • Validity - the extent to which a test measures what we actually wish to measure • Reliability - the accuracy and precision of a measurement • Practicality - wide range of factors of economy, convenience and interpretability

  20. Validity • Many forms • two main are external and internal • external - generalize across persons, settings and times • internal - the extent to which the differences found reflect the true differences

  21. Internal Validity Types • content - degree to which the measuring instrument provides adequate coverage of the topic under study • criterion-related - success of measures used for prediction, the degree to which the predictor is adequate in capturing the relevant aspects

  22. Internal Validity Types • Construct - Answers the question, “What accounts for the variance in the measure?” attempts to identify the underlying construct(s) being measured and determine how well the test represents them

  23. Reliability • The consistency with which a measuring instrument yields a certain result when the entity being measured hasn’t changed. (waist-measuring)

  24. Reliability and Validity • reliability is a contributor to validity and is a necessary but not sufficient condition for validity. • If a scale measures your weight correctly, then it is both reliable and valid. • If it consistently overweighs you by six pounds, then is is reliable but not valid. • If the scale measures erratically from time to time, then it is not reliable and therefore cannot be valid.

  25. Statistics • Descriptive - summarize the general nature of the data obtained • Inferential - help make decisions about the data

  26. Human Mind • Deductive logic - if this then this logic • Inductive reasoning - specific instances to draw conclusions about entire classes of objects or events • scientific method - identify a problem, postulate a hypothesis, gather data, analyze, interpret data and resolve the problem.

  27. Facility with Language • Need to read subject matter to gain specialized terminology • expressive • must eventually be written

  28. Measures • What can you measure about these objects ? (be specific) • a. Laundry detergent • b. Employees • c. Factory output • d. Job satisfaction • e. Program

  29. Data Types • Suggest properties of each of these objects that can be measured by each of the four basic types of scales. • a. store customers • b. voter attitudes • c. hardness of steel alloys • d. profitability of various divisions in a company • e. program

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